French Customs Code
In forceI. - Any tax, duty or charge provided for in this Code that has not been paid within the legal time limit shall give rise to the payment of interest on arrears.
Interest for late payment applies from the first day of the month following the month in which the tax was due until the last day of the month in which payment was made. The rate is 0.20% per month.
Interest for late payment is not due when the increases provided for in 1 of article 224, 9 of article 266 quinquies C and 3 of article 284 quater apply.
II.In the event that the taxpayer voluntarily rectifies any errors, inaccuracies, omissions or shortcomings in the tax returns submitted within the deadline, before the expiry of the period allowed for the administration to exercise its right of recovery and before any audit by the administration, the amount due in respect of the late payment interest referred to in I of this article is reduced by 50%.
If the taxpayer requests such regularisation while an audit by the tax authorities is in progress, either before notification of the information or proposal for taxation referred to in Articles 67 B and 67 D, or after such notification, this amount is reduced by 30%. In the latter case, the taxpayer has thirty days from the date of notification to request regularisation.
The reductions mentioned in this II may only be applied if the regularisation:
1° Does not concern an offence committed exclusively in good faith;
2° Is accompanied by payment in full of the duties, taxes and interest due, either immediately or under a payment plan agreed by the customs accounting officer. (1)
